re: #72 Anymouse 🌹🎃

Right after they built Lynnhaven Mall (the first Saturday it was open), we had an F-14 pilot who had a catastrophic mechanical failure in his aircraft on take-off. Rather than eject and maybe have the aircraft crash beyond the base, he intentionally drove it into the ground on the base to avoid massive loss-of-life at the mall just beyond the west boundary of the base.

The Navy raised holy hell about Muhammad Ali wanting to build a massive hotel on the east side of the base in the resort district. They came to agreement that Ali would build the hotel only 1/3 the original planned height.

Oceana’s days are numbered if Va Beach continues to allow development around the air station. I don’t think the Navy is going to want to move out to Fentress in the Dismal Swamp (plus NALF Fentress would require a whole lot of upgrades to equal NAS Oceana).

It’s pretty clear these days that VB’s relationship with the Navy is more a marriage of convenience these days than any real dedication. The Navy would like to move out, but it doesn’t have the money or the first clue where would go. And the city hates the restrictions that come with the Navy being here but realizes it has absolutely no economy without defense dollars filling the coffers. It doesn’t help the latter that every time they make a bid for a major manufacturer or distributor to set up shop here, they realize the only place left to build is past the Green Line.